DISASTER: Trump Takes Question from Turx, Says it is “Insulting” and Calls Him a Liar

Moments ago, at a press conference at the White House in Washington, DC, President Donald Trump took questions from the media. One White House correspondent, Jake “Turx” Turkeltaub, a frum reporter from New Jersey, asked the president about the rise of anti-Semitic occurrences in the United States, intimating some connection between those incidents and Trump’s election as president.

The president was going to wrap up the press conference, but announced that it would continue for five more minutes. He then said, “I want to find a friendly reporter.”

He turned to Mr. Turkeltaub and said, “Are you a friendly reporter?” adding to the rest of the crowd, “Watch how friendly he is… Wait, wait. Watch how friendly he is.”

Wearing a large black yarmulka with his name, “Turx,” embroidered on it, Mr. Turkeltaub began by saying, “Despite what some of my colleagues may have been reporting, I haven’t seen anybody in my community accuse either yourself or any of, anyone on your staff of being anti-Semitic. We understand that you have Jewish grandchildren. You are their zaidy.

“However, what we are concerned about, and what we haven’t really heard being addressed, is an uptick in anti-Semitism and how the government is planning to take care of it… There has been a report out that 48 bomb threats have been made against Jewish centers all across the country in the last couple of weeks.” said Mr. Turkeltaub. “There are people who are committing anti-Semitic acts or threatening to…”

Mr. Turkeltaub was then cut off the the president, who blasted the reporter for having said that he would ask a “simple, easy question,” rather than the long-winded one he presented. “It’s not. It’s not,” said Trump. “It’s not a simple question. It’s not a fair question.”

Trump told Mr. Turkeltaub to sit down, saying that he understands the rest of his query.

“So here’s the story, folks,” said Trump. “Number one, I am the least anti-Semitic person that you’ve ever seen in your entire life. Number two, racism, the least racist person. In fact, we did very well relative to other people running as a Republican… [Quiet, quiet, quiet.] See, he lied about, he was gonna get up and ask a very straight, simple question, so welcome to the world of the media. But let me just tell you something…that…I hate the charge. I find it repulsive. I hate even the question, because people that know me… And you heard the prime minister, you heard Netanyahu yesterday. Did you hear him, Bibi? He said, ‘I’ve known Donald Trump for a long time…’ …So you should take that instead of having to get up and asking a very insulting question like that.”

After the press conference, Mr. Turkeltaub took to Twitter, stating that “President Trump clearly misunderstood my question. This is highly regretful and I’m going to seek clarification.”

The anti Semitism is coming from the Moslems and left wingers on college campuses. Why does turx have to Harper anti Trump jargon from the left. We Jews keep antagonizing him, it won’t be a pretty picture. Go fight with the real anti Semites and anti israel haters like Obama Clinton and carter.

I know you will censor this comment, but Mr. Turkeltaub made a terrible Chillul Hashem. Instead of using his once in a lifetime opportunity to make a Kiddush Hashem and make Frum/Chassidik people look good before the eyes of the world, he did just the opposite r”l! He attempted to look “professional” by asking a “tough” question. Unfortunately he forgot who he is and what role Yidden have in galus. It is a very shameful day in Jewish media.

Sorry Turx, I think by now you should have known any question re race with President Trump will be taken personally as if this is an attack on him. why this is- I have know idea, I am not a psychiatrist.

I do believe that the president misunderstood turx.
I would hope that turx will RESPECTFULLY appoligize in a way that trump and the media will see and know of the appolgy. If he does that then I think trump will give him the chance to explain what he said.
Trump is obviously sensitive to the claim of anti semetic and you can’t blame him for that.
Turx must do everything possible to have trump realize that we are very much with him and thankful that he won the presidency
It makes no difference if turx himself didn’t vote for trump (and im not accusing him that he did or did not) The people that he represents DID for the most part vote trump.

Well,, if your gonna no yo speak to trump no matter your agenda. Please make sure he understands you. How silly to talk to someone and he doesn’t understand what your saying. Horrible. And therefore he deserves what he got. Sorry. Just being honest.

Turx needs to resign. His question was long winded, if this article quotes him correctly, then he gave bad inform, it was JCC’s that were threatened, not Senators, most Jewish Congressman are Democrats, with any forethought, he should have perceived how the question would be interpreted, and he is at the forefront of the fake anti-Trump news.

It has never been better for yidden during a presidency and we should cherish that. This Turx guy should show appreciation and respect, as long as he looks the way he does; he will be perceived as one that presents the entire community therefor he should show respect to that community… what a shanda!

Wow. I trun on my computer, go to Matzav….and never expected to read that a frum guy asked the president a question – and that it was a disaster!
This is an epic epic mistake.
And stupid for a frum Jew to ask about anti-semitism

Oh really? Jewish Senators like Chuck Schumer, Sanders, Blumenthal, Feinstein, Boxer, Cardin, etc… got threatened??? Sadly, this so called frum reporter is a total moron. Did he really have a press pass? We all remember his performance with Lipa at the Obama Chanukah party. Yes, Turx is part of the left wing fake media.

I think Turx was trying to perform in front of an audience instead of going directly to his question. His long-winded preamble left his motives as to why he was asking that question open to interpretation. Big mistake.

We are aware of turx’s balance when reporting about trump. Trump misunderstood him bec. He misspoke i hope he will apologize for this snd for the disrespectful article about trump in this weeks issue. Astonishing to me that people with such a background are not more sensitive to hisgaros biumos. Again they should apologize effusively not explain themselves away. They need to take responsibility they owe it to all jews who may be adversely affected.

There’s a reason that Chazal allowed those Jews who interacted with Malchus Romi (the Roman Empire) on behalf of the Jewish nation to learn chochmas yivonis and wear a “bluryis” hair style, both of which are issurim. Someone who wants to represent Klal Yisrael in that capacity MUST have the ability to clearly articulate his positions and interact with the political class in a refined way. He must be able to accurately take into account the context, the nature of the person being questioned, the various associations a word or phrase may mistakenly convey, and numerous other calculations. Let this be a hard lesson learned. This is not a game or a way to drum up a little sensation for a magazine. It is in fact a dangerous game to play at the expense of world Jewry. The fact that the question was clearly misunderstood is not an excuse it is a part of the problem.

He followed the stupid lefty Israeli’s question from yesterday’s news conference!!!!

He should have praised the president and said nice things. That question what is the president doing about it? Was not the place! What did he think he is going to gain? Does he think that him asking the question will push the president to do something more?

He should have seen how the president took that question the day before, (it took it personally). So Turx should have know that the president is aware about it and that he takes that question as an attack on him.

As a Frum Jew we are embarrassed what Turx did and we hope Turx makes certain that the president knows that they made a mistake and they are fans of him…

Seems like people are missing the boat. This whole “recent outbreak of antisemitism” is all left wing propoganda to discredit Trump. There has been no outbreak in anti-semetism. There have been threats called into 48 JCC, they may have all been perpetrated by one person. There has been no uptick in anti-semetic acts.

So the very fact that “Turx” brought up this left wing propaganda,and asked it of the President, in a press conference, when he is dealing with real issues, was inexcusable.

Huh? What did Turx do wrong? He asked a valid question. It is a valid concern.
Trump did not even listen to his question, just used him as an opportunity to unload a whole bunch of vile garbage against the media and Turx and say garbage about himself.
HIS ANSWER HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE QUESTION. HOW CAN YOU BLAME THE QUESTIONER?
People that defend Trump expect everyone to take responsibility for Trump’s reactions. Shouldn’t that be Trump’s obligation?

This is how trump took it: “Hey you, I voted for Hilary, but unfortunately I have to deal with you. As part of the propaganda we spread after losing the election, we said there has been an uptick in antisemitism. What do you plan on doing about it? Huh? Huh?”

dis·as·ter
dəˈzastər/
noun
a sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life.
“159 people died in the disaster”
synonyms: catastrophe, calamity, cataclysm, tragedy, act of God, holocaust; accident
“a subway disaster”
denoting a genre of films that use natural or accidental catastrophe as the mainspring of plot and setting.
modifier noun: disaster
“a disaster movie”
an event or fact that has unfortunate consequences.
“a string of personal disasters”
synonyms: misfortune, mishap, misadventure, mischance, setback, reversal, stroke of bad luck, blow
“a string of personal disasters”

The reporters have a few seconds,. Jake Turx is obviously inexperienced at this. He started off by saying antiSemitism is on the rise and cited stats from the last few weeks, exactly the time period since the Pres is in office, that was foolish. How did he expect Trump to react? Trump doesn’t let any slights against him go and that was a slight…big mistake. He could have said something like, ‘as a good friend of the Jews please tell us your plans for helping to fight antiSemitism’, instead of implying that since Trump is in office it is on the rise…that was his big error.

I personally think that when Turx went into the room to be part of the matzav he made a big mistake. Especially when he asked the question. To call a President who’s daughter and son-in-law are Jewish is a big no-no. Even if President Trump really did misunderstand him it is still a huge Chillul Hashem.

An inexperienced liberal “wanna-be” so called “neo-Hasidic” guy who works for a liberal Jewish magazine has the opportunity to make a kiddish hashem and instead angers the sitting president of USA. What an idiot. Don’t apologize, it’s too late.

Okay. I hate to be the voice of reason here but this “chillul Hashem” was brought to my attention and i felt it was my communal duty to share what normal people are thinking. Turx, please continue your awesome work on behalf of klal yisrael. The haters on these sites? They hide behind their screens and type their hate where no one can see their faces. You? You stick up for us. In public. Regardless of what others say or think. If Moshe Rabeinu had not done our dirty work, we’d still be slaves in Egypt. So, ask Hashem to guide your tongue and continue your work on behalf of klal yisrael. Im curious. Had trump responded with more kindness, people would be giving you high fives and kiddaishim in shul. So what’s all this Jewish self-hating accomplishing? Stop worrying about trump’s reaction, people. Hashem controls a “melech” once he’s in office. We all see yad Hashem every day. We’re just not as brave as you are. May you always be a meilitz yashar for all of Klal yisrael.

my dear and fellow jewish brothers, it can and may very well be that mr turx has given up a once ina lifetime oppurtunity to represent the observant community and although i personally beleive a frum jew with a big beard doesnt belong in the white house like that but let us not forget no matter how catastrophic turx’s words were this does not permit anyone to shame and embarrass another yid like that.

If Mr Turks wants to join the leftist Trump bashing, he should not do it all dressed up in the levush – he is creating a tremendous Darkei Sholom problem for the entire frum community. Mr Turks, please either trim your beard, peyos and wear a baseball cap or step away from the Washington politics, and go back to writing ridiculous articles. Whatever your issues are, don’t ruin our community’s relationship with the most pro Jewish President in recent history. Mr Turks, if the spot light is your life’s desire, do it on your own, not by using the Yidishe Levush to stand out from the crowd.

David Golding, what in the world are you talking about. I wasn’t aware that the President, who is a griend to the Jewish People, was Pharoah, and Turx was Moshe Rabbeinu.

Not worry about angering the President of the United States? Are you serious? Hashem should guide his toungue”, clearly he does not have the seyatta deshmaya in this inyan, or he wouldn’t have angered the President of the U.S.

It’s not a Chillul Hashem when every word of secular media coverage of the story takes Turx’s side. It is a Chillul Hashem to so brazenly misunderstand the world around us, to expect everyone who looks like us to isolate themselves from the rest of world unless they’re cowering before or kissing the boots of the powerful. Turx’s actual words would not have offended Trump had he actually listened. And I’m left wondering why so many here seem to have made the same mistake.

He should have stated the question differently. Perhaps he was inexperienced about this sort of events. Also it is important not to talk about “antisemitism” which has many people shut off attention immediately, but instead refer to specific events, bomb threats? racial hatred episodes in the streets? restrictions on butchering techniques? issues related to non-public schools? and if possible phrase it in a way which pertains to as many citizens / voters as it’s practical.
I did not like Trump’s response nor the fact that he lost it completely, but there is nothing we can do about that.

the comments on this thread are a SHANDA. What is this leave the Torah at the door, and feel free to bash a YID day? What because he asked a question to the President, for which the President did not listen to (at all) and instead took it as a personal offense. So because Trump has the mental capacity of a 6 yr old we bash the reporter? This is a legit question, whether increased anti semitism from the Arab community or the White Nationalist. It is happening, it has grown, and there is a cabal of supporters of DT who represent it, and have been energized by Trump. The question has a SIMPLE answer, for which the great DT could not muster a sane response to. This is a sad moment…